Connector device



Jul 2,1940. a S T 2,206,736

CONNECTOR DEVICE Filed Dec. 16, 1956 awuc nh n Sana/e6 Sui'er Patented July 2, 1940 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE mouse Hugh H. Eby, Inca sylvania a corporation of Penn- Applicatlon December 16, 1936, Serial No. 116,188

My invention relates to connector devices and, more particularly, to sockets of the multi-contact variety, especially adapted to receive the prongs of a vacuum tube or the like for the purpose of 5 supplying potentials to the various elements thereof.

Connector devices of thetype to which my invention pertains heretofore have been provided with a plurality of circumferentially located axially extending openings aflording .passageways for the separate wires of a multi-conductor cable. Such construction necessitates the separate insertion of eachconductor into the opening provided therefor, before the bare ends of the cable are soldered to their respective female contact elements. a

It is, accordingly, an object of my invention to provide a connector device of the type referred to that shall be simplified in construction and shall permit expeditious assembly with a plurality of contact elements and a multi-wire cable.

Anotherobject of my invention is to provide a connector device of such construction that when the plug part of a connector device or a vacuum tube is plugged into the socket part of said connector device, the hand of the person performing the plugging-in operation is prevented from coming in contact with the prongs of the device being plugged in as same are making contact withllve contacts in the socket.

Another object of my invention is to provide a socket for a connector device of such construction that accidental contact with the prong-reis inserted or removed.

Another object of my invention is to provide a socket for a connector device through which a multi-conductor cable may be passed in its entirety and having contact-element-accommodating wells so disposed therein that the conductors constituting the cable may be thereafter soldered to their respective terminals and the terminals disposed in the said wells with minimum labor. Another object of my invention is to provide a socket for a connector device of the type described, the contact-element-accommodating wells being so constructed as to prevent rotation or displacement of the female contact elements carried therein should strain be'exerted upon the cables connected thereto.

Another object of my invention is to provide a molded socket to receive and hold contact elements, said socket of Bakelite or the like having such configuration that the contact elements ceiving elements shall be prevented when a plug carried therein are separated from each other by ample integral barriers of insulating material.

Another object of my invention is to provide a connector device or socket adapted to receive the prongs of a cathode ray-tube tuning indicator or the like, the socket being so constructed that the assembly may be mounted upon a panel or the like through the medium of clamping means encircling either the tube-base or the socket itself.

A still further and more specific object of my invention is to provide a prong-receiving contact element of novel configuration, especially adapted for use in the molded socket heretofore referred to. p

Theforegoing objects and other objects ancillary thereto I prefer to accomplish by providing a molded socket, generally cylindrical, having in one end thereof an axially extending cablereceiving opening that merges into a larger opening in the other end into which the base of a tube or of a male connector device may be inserted.

Intermediate the two openings, I provide a circular ledge. A plurality of main contact-receiving wells extend axially into the ledge to a distance short of the cable-receiving end of the socket, the wells being circumferentially spaced around the cable-receiving opening and the open end of each well merging into a lateral niche, open at the top, that extends toward the base of the socket for a distance short of the bottom of the main well associated therewith with the. niches each having a side wall, the upper edge of which is spaced from the substantial plane of the circular ledge to permit a connector to extend transversely thereof below the level of the ledge and to act as a lateral stop for a niche-disposed lug on a well-disposed contact.

Furthermore, the cable-receiving opening is provided with a plurality of wire-separating ribs that extend axially thereof for a distance short of the ledge and of the small end of said opening.

Further, I provide a plurality of small protuberances on the inner surface of the larger opening in the socket for the purpose of holding in place a protective cover having openings therethrough corresponding in position to the contactaccommodating wells. The protective plate preferably is provided with a peripheral indexing bay into which a rib on the inner wall of the large opening extends for the purpose of preventing the protective plate from being rotated and also to aid in alignment at time of assembly.

The novel features that I consider characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following descriplion of certain specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is an exploded view in perspective of a socket and tube base assembly, the socket being shown in cross-section,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a wired socket, one of the contact elements being omitted in order that the relation between the main wells and the side-niches may be more clearly apparent,

Fig. 3 is a view in vertical cross-section of a. connector device constructed according to my invention taken along a line corresponding to the line 3-3 in Fig. 2', looking in the direction of the arrow,

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of an illustrative form of contact,

Fig. 4A is a plan view of the contact of Fig. 4 with a fragment of a wire connector shown as soldered thereto.

v Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of a modified form of contact,

Fig. 5A is a plan view thereof,

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view ofthe :pre-

'ferredform of contact, and

Fig. 6A is a plan view thereof.

In all figures of the drawing, equivalent 'elements are similarly designated,

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawing, a socket constructed according to my invention is constituted by a molded element 1 generally cylindrical in contour, having at one end an axial opening 3 just sumcient in diameter to accommodate a multi-conductor cable 6. The cable-receiving opening merges into a cylindrical opening I at the other end of the socket, having a diameter just sufficient to receive and accom-" i and it is spaced axially-of the socket a very short distance from the ledge receiving end thereof.

Still looking into the socket from the large opening, it will be noted that the last mentioned ledge I 1 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially disposed circular wells 2| separated. each from the other, by walls "of the molding material. v

The open end of each of the wells merges into a lateral niche 25 or side pocket that extends toward the cable-receiving end of the socket from a distance short of the plane in which lie the bottoms of the main wells 2!. Each niche is separated from the open axial channel by the relatively short or notched wall ll defining an end of the niche.

In wiring my improved socket, the. cable is drawn through thesmall opening of the socket and is thereafter fanned out. To the free end l1 nearest the cableof each of the conductors of the cable is aiiixed wells substantially until the connector abuts the notched side walls 31, each soldering tab being accommodated by the side pocket or niche into which the open end of the main well merges. It will be observed that the ing 29 is axially of such length as to project downwardly into the niche 25 below the level of the upper edge surface of the side wall 3| when the contact 21 is housed in the well 21.

It will be noted from an inspection of the drawing that the wall ll of each side pocket nearest the central cable-receiving opening is cut down or notched a slight amount, thus permitting the insulation to extend to within a very short distance of the point of substantially tangential connection of a wire to its contact element'.

The notches, recesses or'cut-down walls thus formed in the sides of the niches, cooperating with the soldering tabs on the contact elements engaged behind side walls 3|, effectively prevent the said elements from turning and becoming displaced when strain is exerted upon the cable. It will be evident that axial :pull on the cable in the axial channel of the housing is translated into direct tension on the-connectors radial of the channel which due to the tangential en gagement with the individual contacts exerts sub- ,stantially axial torque only thereon and which is absorbed-by engagement of the solderinglugs against the inner surface of the side wall 3| and by the relative stiifness of the conductor itself. The arrangement of contacts and contact lugs, conductors, wells, niches and side walls is all such as to dispose the mounted or inserted elements not appreciably above the substantial level of the well-containing ledge l1 so as to be successfully concealed and held in place by cover. plate l8. mounted on the ledge II.

The cover plate is provided with a peripheral notch 33 or bay of sufficient depth to accommodate an axially extending protuberance I! on the inner wall of the socket, the said protuberance being disposed between the tube-base-supporting ledge l3. and the ledge I! on which the coverplate rests. The notch and protuberance serve to index the holes in the cover plate with tact elements from displacement when the male connector is withdrawn.

It will be noted from an inspection of Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing that the inner wall of the socket between the ledge into which the wells extend and the smaller cable-receiving opening .is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced ribs 39 that extend toward the axis of the socket. These ribs assist in maintaining the wires of the cable in proper alignment.

It is, of course, to be understood that I am not limited to the use of the specific contact element exemplified by Figs. 6 and 6A of the drawing, wherein the soldering tab is shown as being so bent, down from one end thereof as to leave a notch ll. That form, however, is preferred.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 4A and 5 and 5A, the tab also may be formed by bending over'and downward a small tongue extending directly from the edge of one end of the contact element. Also, as exemplified by Figs. 5 and 5A of the drawing, the contact elementmay have a plurality of additional interior wiping edges 43 disposed axially thereof and formed by providing a slot in the wall thereof on the soldering tab side and turning inwardly the edges of the slot.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description of an embodiment of my invention that it is an improvement over similar devices which require the threading of the conductors through a plurality of separate openings individual thereto. It should also be apparent that my improved connector may be manufactured and assembled with minimum labor and at minimum expense. In

addition, in view of the fact that the contact ele-.

ments are separated from each other by ade- 0 quate insulation and are prevented from becoming displaced, my improved connector is quite well adapted to be utilized in situations where relatively high potentials exist among the wires con- I the appended claims.

stituting the cable.

Although I have chosen a preferred form of my connector device and several forms of the contact element itself for purposes of explanation, it is not to be inferred therefrom that I am limited to the exact forms disclosed. On the contrary, since numerous modifications of my invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains, my invention is to be limited only by the prior art and by the spirit of I claim as my invention:

1. A molded socket, generally cylindrical in contour, having in one end a connector-receiving opening, in the other end a cable-receiving opening, the said openings merging into each other through an intermediate channel having a diameter less than that of the first mentioned opening and greater than that of the second mentioned opening whereby a circumferential ledge, facing the first mentioned opening is defined, the ledge being provided with a plurality of contact element-receiving wells opening toward the large opening in the socket and, one side wall of each well being provided with a lateral niche the bottom of which lies above the bottom of the accompanying well, and having the iriner wall of each niche depressed to provide space for an insulated wire.

2. A molded socket having a large connector base-receiving opening in one end that merges into a relatively small cable-receiving opening at the other end, a circumferential ledge being disposed on the inner wall of the device, intermediate the said openings, the said ledge being provided with a plurality of circumferentially disposed 'wells opening toward the large opening, one side wall of each well being depressed to a depth short of the bottom thereof to form a side pocket, the side pockets being circumferentially spaced and the inner wall of each side pocket being-notched to provide space for the accommodation of an insulated wire.

3. The invention set forth in claim 2, additionally characterized in that the inner surface of the socket between the ledge and the cablereceiving opening is provided with a plurality of axially disposed ribs that function to assist in maintaining a plurality of conductors spaced apart when the socket is in use.

4. In combination, an insulating base provided with a .well, the opening of the well being cut away at one side to form a pocket, one side wall of the pocket being notched, a semi-cylindrical contact clement one end of which has a turned down integral soldering tab so disposed in the well that the tab is accommodatedby the side pocket, and a conductor, one end of which is disposed between the tab and the contact element, the conductor lying in the notch in the wall of the side pocket.

5. A molded socket having a central axial opening having an axis and containing a ledge substantially perpendicular to the axis of the opening, a plurality of wells disposed substantially in a ring in the ledge concentric to the central opening and each having an axis substantially parallel to the first mentioned axis, a cable end disposed in the opening and comprising a plurality of conductors fanned out at the end of the cable and terminating in the vicinity of the ledge, each conductor end extending substantially radial of the opening, a plurality of substantially cylindrical contacts disposed in the respective wells and respectively coupled to a conductor end with the latter extending substantially tangentially thereof so that endwise cable pull with the contacts in the wells is converted into rotative torque on the contacts, and

means to resist rotation of the contacts in the axial opening and a ledge substantially perpendicular to the axis of the opening, a well disposed in the ledge to one side of the cord receiving opening and having an axis substantially parallel to that of the cord receiving opening, a cable end disposed in the opening and the conductor thereof terminating in the vicinity of the ledge, the end of the conductor extending substantially radially to the axis of the opening, a substantially cylindrical contact disposed in the well and coupled to the conductor end with the latter extending substantially tangentially thereof so that endwise cord pull with the contact in the well is converted into rotating torque on the contact and means to resist rotations of the contact in the well.

7. A molded socket having a cord receiving axial opening and a ledge substantially perpendicular to the axis of the opening, a. well disposed in the ledge to one side of the cord receiving opening and having an axis substantially parallel to that of the cord receiving opening, a niche communicating with the well in a line angularly divergent from a line between the cord receiving opening and the well, a cable end disposed in the opening and the conductor thereof .terminating in the vicinity of the ledge in substantially axial alignment with said niche, the end of the conductor extending substantially radially to the axis of the opening, a semi-cylindrical contact disposed in the well, an anchoring dicular to the axis of the opening, a well dis- 7 stantially tangentially of the contact so that endwise cord pull with the contact in the well is converted into rotating torque'on the contact and stop means integral with the socket to resist rotation of the contact in the well by resisting movement of the lug in the niche.

8. A molded socket having a cord receiving axial opening and a ledge substantially perpenposed in the ledge to one side of the cord receiving opening and having an axis substantially parallel to that of the cord receiving opening, a niche communicating with the well'in a line angularly divergent from a line between the cord receiving opening and the well, a walldeflning one surface of the niche and extending trans versely of a line between the cord receivingbpening and the niche, a cable end disposed in the opening and the conductor thereof terminating in the vicinity of the ledge in substantially axial alignment with-the said niche, the end of the' conductor thereof extending substantially radially to the axis of the opening transversely of said wall, a semi-cylindrical contact disposed in the wall, an anchoring lug extending generally radially of the contact at a point not below the level of the upper edge of the wall and having an and disposed in the niche with the conductor and extending-substantially tangentially of the contact'so that endwise cord pull with the contact in the well is converted into rotating torque 

